The sun shone on Middleton Old Home Day's lunch

By John Nolan

jnolan@fosters.com

fosters.com

By John Nolan

jnolan@fosters.com

Posted Aug. 29, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By John Nolan

jnolan@fosters.com

Posted Aug. 29, 2013 at 3:15 AM

MIDDLETON — Last week, the small community of Middleton had its annual day in the sun with the 147th Old Home Day lunch — a tradition that harks all the way back to 1866. Although not on the tourists’ radar, the occasion attracts scores of people in the know from miles around who enjoy the unique ambiance of the old Town Hall, attributed to sitting on plain seats, elbow to elbow, next to folks they may only see once a year, and chowing down hearty fare, which includes a delectable array of home-made pies.

The day in the sun, this year, was exactly that, with temperatures in the 80s, and just enough breeze to stir the giant American flag that measures 27 feet by 48 feet, and is slung on a wire hawser between two towering wooden poles, outside the Town Hall.

“We really want to thank the Highway Department for putting up the flag and taking it down at the end,” said Old Home Day Treasurer Mary Kimball, speaking after the event.

In the past, two male and four female volunteers have undertaken the arduous task, which requires two people to hoist the flag, while four people take it out of the box and keep it off the ground.

Mary Kimball was delighted that there were 16 helpers at the lunch this year, including six first-timers

“I want to thank the whole town for the home baking,” she added.

The full all-you-can-eat menu consists of baked white pea beans, baked red kidney beans, hot dogs, cole slaw, macaroni salad, potato salad, brown bread and rolls, sharp cheese, pickles, cucumbers and tomatoes and all kinds of homemade desserts, washed down with punch and coffee. The cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children and free for under fives.

Kimball said that 130 people paid for their lunch this year, resulting in $762 being taken at the door. Once the overheads are deducted, it will typically leave around $500 or more to be donated to a local cause. Past recipients have been Middleton Gospel Church and the volunteer Fire Department.

Kimball said that one worthy cause being considered this year is the Middleton Town Hall Renovation/Restoration Project, but the snag here is that the Middleton Heritage Commission (MHC), created by a vote of town meeting in March, has not yet set up a fund to receive any money. Middleton resident and State Rep. John Mullen and Cheryl Kimball (no relation to Mary), are members of the MHC, and they were both present at the Old Home Day lunch. They welcomed the restoration cause being considered as the possible recipient of this year’s lunch profit, but surmised that it would take another vote of the people to create a fund.

During the lunch, many diners read the informational sheet prepared by MHC members about the next steps to be taken regarding the preservation of the Town Hall, which, back in 2011 was listed by NH Preservation Alliance as one of “Seven to Save.”

Next month, they are scheduled to submit a grant proposal to the state’s LCHIP to go towards the cost of restoration and preservation, including the murals on the second floor.